{"product_id":"9780792325093","title":"The reproduction and development of sharks, skates, rays and ratfishes","description":"\u003ch1\u003eThe reproduction and development of sharks, skates, rays and ratfishes\u003c\/h1\u003e \u003ch2\u003eDemski, Leo S.; Wourms, John P.\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis volume had its origin in a symposium on the  \u003cem\u003eReproduction and\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003eDevelopment of Cartilaginous Fishes\u003c\/em\u003e that  was held at the annual meetings of the American Elasmobranch Society  and the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists in  Charleston, South Carolina in 1990. The cartilaginous fishes, class  Chondrichthyes, are a large and diverse group of fishes that include  approximately 900 to 1100 living species of sharks, skates, rays and  ratfishes. Throughout their history, which dates back at least 400  million years, they have been a successful major component of the  marine ecosystem. The chondrichthyan fishes occupy a pivotal position  in comparative and evolutionary studies of vertebrate reproduction and  development. They are the oldest surviving group of jawed vertebrates  and they possess both the adult vertebrate Bauplan and the vertebrate  program of embryonic development. The major features of the female  reproductive system, including its embryonic origin, structure,  physiological function, and biochemistry, apparently were established  early in vertebrate evolution and are fully developed in  chondrichthyan fishes. These features of the female reproductive  system have been retained during the evolution of the other classes of  vertebrates. Much the same can be said for the male reproductive  system. Moreover, viviparity, placental nourishment of developing  embryos, and the hormonal regulation of these events made an initial  appearance in this group. The 22 articles presented in this volume  bring together a wide variety of complementary research by  investigators from seven countries, allowing us to broaden the scope  and implications of our studies while identifying opportunities for  future research. The appearance of a volume on the reproduction and  development of cartilaginous fishes is quite opportune. The continued  existence of these fishes, which survived the great extinction events  of Earth's history, is nowthreatened by overexploitation unless  immediate steps for their conservation are undertaken. Knowledge of  their reproduction and development not only is an end in itself, but  is of critical importance in devising successful conservation and  resource management strategies. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch3\u003eDetails\u003c\/h3\u003e \u003cp\u003ePublished by: Springer\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePublication Date: 1993-10-31\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFormat: Hardcover\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eISBN-13: 9780792325093\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDOI: 10.1007\/978-94-017-3450-9\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDimensions: 260.0cm x193.0cm\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePages: 301.0\u003c\/p\u003e ","brand":"Springer Netherlands","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44541634936972,"sku":"9780792325093","price":197.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/9545\/1788\/files\/9780792325093.jpg?v=1759288512","url":"https:\/\/fh90cf-fv.myshopify.com\/products\/9780792325093","provider":"Late Knight Books and Services, LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}